Evaluating the Financial Health of Agricultural Enterprises in the Conditions of the Slovak Republic Using Bankruptcy Models

Roman Vavrek,Ivana Kravčáková Vozárová,Rastislav Kotulič

doi:10.3390/agriculture11030242

Roman Vavrek, Ivana Kravčáková Vozárová + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11030242

Copy DOI

Abstract

Under the influence of the change in the overall economic environment, the problem of measuring the performance of a company and its financial health is also changing. At present, every agricultural company is exposed to a number of internal as well as external risks, the failure of which can lead to potential bankruptcy. It is a known fact that the risks in agriculture are significantly greater than those in other sectors of the national economy. Proper diagnosis of critical aspects and measuring the development of individual financial indicators of agricultural holdings are basic prerequisites for eliminating these risks and maintaining, as well as increasing, their competitiveness. Among the key tools for measuring the financial situation of a company are bankruptcy models, three of which have been used (Altman model, Taffler model, and Bonity index). The aim of this study was to identify the comprehensive financial health of 469 agricultural enterprises in the Slovak Republic using the three above-mentioned bankruptcy models in 2016. The obtained results were verified using the Kruskal–Wallis test, Levene test, or Moran index. Altman’s model indicated potential future problems of businesses and agricultural cooperatives. Using the Bonity index, the neutral situation was assessed (the financial health could be regarded as neither insufficient nor optimal). Taffler model offered contradicted results and does not expect the occurrence of problems soon. In the study, we also verified the assumption of the dependence of financial health of companies on the legal form and territorial division, which was confirmed to be insignificant.

Highlights

The world economy is focusing its attention on the financial situation and measuring the financial health of businesses more than ever before
The aim of this study is to identify the comprehensive financial health of 469 agricultural enterprises in the Slovak Republic using three bankruptcy models in 2016
The results of the analyses are described for each model separately, highlighting the differences between the cooperatives and businesses, the differences between regions in terms of the median and the average, and the differences between the individual regions of the Slovak Republic

Summary

Introduction

The world economy is focusing its attention on the financial situation and measuring the financial health of businesses more than ever before. Accurate and timely diagnosis of problems and critical situations helps to eliminate the probable consequences of the negative effects on the financial health of agricultural companies, taking into account the specifics of accounting and agricultural production [1]. According to Majstorovic et al [3], in order to ensure appropriate conditions for the development of agricultural companies and their survival on the market, emphasis should be placed on modern management of their future activities. In this context, the business analysis of agrarian entities, which is able to "generate" data on modern management, is of great importance. The selection of an appropriate method, taking into account these criteria, should be aimed at achieving the necessary level of measurement complexity and subsequent evaluation of the company

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion